perez art museum miami gift 7 million caribbean cultural institute 1234765271

The Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) has announced two major gifts totaling $7 million for its Caribbean Cultural Institute (CCI). The Mellon Foundation contributed an additional $2 million, while the Green Family Foundation (GFF) donated $5 million, leading to the institute's renaming as the Green Family Foundation Caribbean Cultural Institute. The funds will support operating expenses and the endowment of the CCI, which was originally established in 2019 with a $1 million Mellon grant. The Green Family Foundation, founded by Steven J. Green and Dorothea Green, has deep philanthropic roots in Miami, including ties to Florida International University and local art initiatives. Current CCI fellows include artist M. Florine Démosthène, writer Rianna Jade Parker, and anthropologist Celia Irina González.

president trump plans presidential library skyscraper miami 1234779509

President Donald Trump has unveiled a rendering for his planned presidential library in downtown Miami, envisioned as a 47-story skyscraper. The proposal features a gold entranceway, a 20-foot-tall golden statue of the former president, and a replica of the Oval Office, alongside a hotel and office space. The project is being designed by architecture firm Bermello Ajamil and is reportedly seeking to raise nearly $1 billion in donations to fund the construction on highly valuable waterfront land.

More US artists forced to pay for their own shows as museum and culture budgets shrink

The article reports that U.S. artists like Lucia Hierro are increasingly forced to pay for their own museum exhibitions and public commissions as institutional budgets shrink. Hierro’s ambitious installation centered on a 7.5-foot monobloc chair required $35,000–$40,000 for fabrication alone, far exceeding what the commissioning institution could provide. The project moved forward only after support from her gallerist and a new fund from Miami-based nonprofit Fountainhead Arts, which received 96 applications requesting $1.8 million—14 times its available $125,000 in grants. The article highlights that even artists selected for the Venice Biennale face such funding gaps.

Directors Chosen by Internal Call Rather Than Competition: The Great Restoration of State Museums

Direttori scelti per interpello e non per concorso. La grande restaurazione dei musei statali

The Italian state museum system is undergoing a significant reversal of the landmark 2015 Franceschini reforms, which originally opened director positions to international competition and private-sector expertise. Recent appointments at major institutions like the Reggia di Caserta and the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice indicate a shift away from global searches toward internal ministerial assignments, effectively turning museum leadership back into a closed bureaucratic career path.

unt faculty open letter victor quinonez exhibition cancelation 1234773559

Faculty at the University of North Texas's College of Visual Arts and Design have issued an open letter strongly objecting to the abrupt and unexplained cancellation of a solo exhibition by artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez. The letter, addressed to university leadership, argues the removal contradicts UNT's own policies on academic freedom, freedom of expression, and non-discrimination based on content.

unt faculty open letter victor quinonez exhibition cancelation 1234773559

Faculty at the University of North Texas's College of Visual Arts and Design have issued an open letter protesting the abrupt and unexplained cancellation of a solo exhibition by artist Victor "Marka27" Quiñonez. The letter, addressed to university leadership, argues the removal violates UNT's own policies on academic freedom and non-discrimination based on content, and demands an explanation for the decision.

Miami Arts Organizations Respond to NEA Cuts

Miami arts nonprofits, including Dimensions Variable and Fountainhead, received termination notices from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) stating their federal funding would end May 31st because their projects did not align with presidential priorities. The cuts compound existing financial strain from state and local reductions, including Governor Ron DeSantis's veto of $32 million in state arts funding and a proposed $12.8 million cut by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who later restored $11.5 million after public backlash. Organizations now face canceled programming, raised fees, and uncertainty about reimbursing already-spent funds.

Miami Arts Organizations Respond to NEA Cuts

Miami arts nonprofits, including Dimensions Variable and Fountainhead, have had their National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funding terminated effective May 31st, following a federal directive to fund only projects aligned with the President's priorities. The cuts compound existing financial strain from state and local reductions, including Governor Ron DeSantis's veto of $32 million in state arts funding and a proposed $12.8 million cut by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, which was later partially restored to $11.5 million. Organizations are now scrambling to cover costs, potentially canceling programming, raising fees, or increasing rents for artists.

A collective lunch is organized in Milan to discuss the problems of the cultural sector. Here is how to participate

A Milano si organizza un pranzo collettivo per discutere dei problemi del settore culturale. Ecco come partecipare

The nomadic assembly "OMTU – Organized Meals for Times of Uprising" is heading to Milan on April 19, 2026, coinciding with the miart art fair. Organized by a coalition of independent spaces including terzospazio, Osservatorio Futura, Parsec, and Arts of the Working Class, the event features a collective lunch followed by a public discussion at the Baséll space. The gathering aims to address the systemic precariousness of the cultural sector, focusing specifically on the scarcity of affordable social and cultural spaces in Milan.

I’m an NYU Contract Professor. This Is Why We Plan to Strike.

Contract faculty at New York University, represented by the union Contract Faculty United - UAW, have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike after 15 months of contentious bargaining. The union, comprising over 900 professors, accuses the NYU administration of violating labor law and failing to address core demands regarding job security, pay, and academic freedom.

CAF AND PINTA FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE TO STRENGTHEN THE LATIN AMERICAN ART ECOSYSTEM

CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – and the Pinta Foundation have formed a strategic alliance to bolster the Latin American art ecosystem. The partnership will support professional exchange, international visibility, and cultural integration for artists, artisans, and creators across the region, with CAF acting as a strategic partner for Pinta's network of events.